Sallisaw Police Officer Billy Oliver, left, his wife, Julie, center and Officer Herb Hutchinson met with representatives from other agencies Thursday to make plans for the city’s participation in the anti-drug program Crystal Darkness. The program includes an anti-drug video message, which will be broadcast statewide Jan. 13. Hutchinson said he and Oliver attended a training session with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, which approved the program, and the officers suggested Sallisaw participate in the program.
Sally Maxwell • TIMES
Managing Editor
Sallisaw officials continued making plans Thursday to participate in the statewide Crystal Darkness anti-drug program on Jan. 13.
Sallisaw Police Chief Shaloa Edwards explained the Crystal Darkness program will include the statewide showing of the Crystal Darkness documentary, an open discussion on the dangers of methamphetamines and other drugs, and a telephone bank for others who may have seen the documentary on television but couldn’t attend the public broadcast. Callers may ask about seeking help for addiction or report suspected drug activity.
Edwards said, “We have heard from other communities that they were swamped with telephone calls. They didn’t have enough telephones to answer all the calls.”
Edwards said he hopes to have enough telephones at the showing site to answer all calls.
In Sallisaw the documentary will be shown at the Sallisaw High School gym, and the discussion will take place in the high school commons.
Judy Martens, Sallisaw Chamber of Commerce executive vice president, said a basketball game is slated for the high school gymnasium on the same night, but school officials have agreed to allow the documentary to be shown in the gym at 6:30 p.m. Sallisaw will be playing Roland, and both coaches have agreed to delay the start of the game until 7 p.m.
The anti-drug discussion will take place in the commons area immediately following the presentation of the documentary, which may also be seen in the commons. School personnel from the Indian Capital Technology Center in Sallisaw said Thursday they hope to have the documentary shown there, also followed by the discussion.
At Thursday’s meeting, participants suggested the following.
—Those attending be asked to sign in so that the statewide project can keep a count of how many were reached by the project.
—Police officers will speak after the showing of the documentary to explain what people should look for when drug use is suspected.
—The telephone numbers will be published later so that callers will know where to direct their questions and information.
—Sheriff-elect Ron Lockhart said a fourth showing site may be set up at Immanuel Baptist Church in Sallisaw.
—The program will be advertised through flyers, on DiamondNet, in Your TIMES and flyers will be included in residents’ utility bills.
—Edwards said he hopes to have a child read the poem “Angels in Black,” which points out how methamphetamine making and dealing impact small children, who are sometimes rescued from a drug-making building or from drug-dealing areas by police officers dressed in black.
—Personnel from the Sequoyah County Drug Court will visit with those attending drug court and asked if they will do a testimonial about the dangers of addiction to methamphetamine.
Edwards, when he adjourned the meeting, said, “We want to show people what it (methamphetamine) looks like so we can take it off the street.
“It has ruined a lot of lives,” he said.
Edwards said the group will hold one more meeting, at noon Jan. 6, in the Sallisaw Civic Center if available, to complete the plans for the program.
The program’s Web site — www.crystaldarkness.com — has more information on the program.
The site notes that all Oklahomans, including churches, schools, civic groups and law enforcement, can have an active investment in this methamphetamine awareness project.
Crystal Darkness Oklahoma is co-chaired by Oklahoma First Lady Kim Henry and begins with the airing of the half-hour documentary on all Oklahoma television stations, as well as radio and Internet media. The documentary will feature testimonials graphically articulating the devastating impact meth has had on families and communities across the state. The air-date is tentatively set for Jan. 13.
The Web site suggests both private and public individuals help with the project by organizing community watch parties, panel discussions and other events at schools, churches and community centers. Organizers suggest that money and time may be donated to the project.
Oklahomans can also spread the word to school boards and administrators, civic clubs and churches, retail stores owners and managers within the community to report suspicious activities, or schedule free meth awareness educational and training programs.
For Oklahomans needing help, substance abuse assistance resources are also available at http://crystaldarknessoklahoma.org/resources.aspx.
